Photo via Red Dirt Girl, I think.
Two Sides of the Jonquil
The promise of spring,
The first bulb to appear in my garden,
The jonquil has a simple elegance,
An old world purity, about it
That is quite enchanting.
It is, therefore, ironic
That the gelatinous slime
That exudes from its stem
When it is cut
Is both bitter
And toxic.
But then,
How often is that the case
In our daily life?
.
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© J Cosmo Newbery 2013
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So very true!! Outer beauty can be deceptive.
ReplyDeleteThey are the scrappiest of plants when they have passed their prime too! The outer beauty is transitory.
ReplyDeleteI am welcoming jonquils here too, but choose to ignore their slimy, smelly side. And drat you, I am now wondering whether I adopt the same blindness in life more generally.
ReplyDeleteToo often, unfortunately...and usually caused by the misdeeds and misbehaviour of others.
ReplyDeleteBut then,
ReplyDeleteHow often is that the case
In our daily life?
Spot on Cosmo! Some things are just too good to be true and some cloaked pretty to hide the ugliness beneath. Rightly said!
Hank
Why are you being so mean to jonquils?
ReplyDeleteDragons like them, so you know what that means!
DeleteI like this edgier, more sharply pointed penned, Cosmo.
ReplyDeleteWhatever is 'musing' you is helping you to dig deeper.
And what gems you are writing these days!
xxx
Cos, I came back here after you mentioned the comment above by Red Dirt Girl. I agree, there is something stirring within you that's bubbling to the top, where the pen lies... just keep following your spirit and keep these poems coming! Love all your writing, but this has the keen edge of the jonquil itself. Amy
ReplyDeleteha. yeah, you'd be surprised, or maybe not surprised by some people...all pretty on the outside and really dont give a damn about anyone but themselves on the inside...
ReplyDeleteThe outer form betrays nothing of what lies beneath, keen observation. Thanks,
ReplyDeleteThe outer form betrays nothing of the true identity. Nicely done. Thanks,
ReplyDeleteIncisive observations make good metaphors. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI love jonquils, actually any bulb/tuber flower (daffodils, tulips, lilies..) A wonderful write and keen observation, that insidious flip side...
ReplyDelete